Corn twirls 2nd career perfect game vs Ranch

Jacob Corn continued his mastery over Weston Ranch in a Valley Oak League opener for both clubs Tuesday in Stockton.

The 6-foot-2 southpaw ace pitched his second perfect game against the Cougars in three years, needing just 53 pitches to get through the 11-0 five-inning, mercy-shortened victory .

The Oregon-bound Corn also achieved perfection in the 2012 VOL opener as a sophomore. In three career appearances against Weston Ranch (0-1 VOL, 2-9 overall), he has 26 strikeouts in 13 innings while giving up just two hits and no walks. He fanned eight on Tuesday.

“Corn was obviously brilliant today and we played very good defense behind him,” Manteca coach Neil MacDannald said. “If he hits his spots and throws multiple pitches for a strike it would take a pretty special hitter to do much against him.”

All the hitting was done by the Buffaloes (1-0, 8-2), who pounded out 11 hits. Their six spot in the top of the third gave them an 8-0 lead, and they plated three more in the fourth to put the mercy rule in play.

Joe Menzel (2 for 3, four RBIs) came through with a pair of two-out hits, and Brandon Landwehr drove another in with two outs. Alex Jorgensen added three RBIs and a triple, Ezequiel Diaz plated two runs and Alex Garlets was 2 for 2 with a run. Corn also did damage at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Freshman Manuel Rubio manned the mound for the Cougars, logging three innings of work. Parker Hardy and Josh Dilg followed in relief.

“We had a good approach at the plate and had some good clutch hitting,” MacDannald said. “We have had our best practices of the year lately, focusing on the process. I’m excited to see how good this team can get if we keep that up.”

Southern League

Le Grand 5, Ripon Christian 3

Christian Williams clubbed a two-RBI hit in the top of the eighth as Le Grand (3-0, 3-4) escaped Ripon with a hard-earned victory.

Ripon Christian (2-1, 3-5) trailed 3-0 going into the bottom of the fifth before David Henderson knocked in Danny Vander Molen with a double. Henderson later scored on an infield error.

That same combination did it again in the bottom of the seventh to force the extra inning. Vander Molen singled and stole second with two outs and plated the equalizer after Henderson’s infield knock. Vander Molen rounded third when a Le Grand infielder bobbled the ball.